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Welcome to the Migraine with Aura Forum

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Hello Eris – do you have a question about Migraine aura you’d like to talk about?

I read somewhere that when I get my aura that it is the 2nd stage of my migraine and not the first as I thought? Where can I learn more about the stages of migraine with aura and what recent research says about this?

Hello K5th,

I wrote a post about the stages of a Migraine attack. You can find the information here: http://migraine.com/blog/what-are-the-stages-of-a-migraine-attack/ Feel free to ask questions if you still have some!

New to the forum. Looking for help with ‘complicated migraines’ (aka with aura). Suffering with them since Sept 2010. 37 yrs old. Suddenly developed these wonderful things without warning. More ER visits than I can count. Dilaudid is the only thing that works, but would rather be able to function and work. Acupuncture worked great, but may be starting to not. Allergies: Aspirin, Codeine, Percocet (and anything ending in ‘cet’), Naproxen. Depakote doesn’t do a thing. Help! – Michelle

Hi there- I’m so sorry that you are having these migraines. You didn’t mention how often they occur and another thought I had was; if Dilaudid works, then why would you not be able to function and work? Really not being rude its just that those drugs worked for me but my problem was I couldn’t get enough of them to make it through a month of working. Do you know what I mean? I’d be good for as long as I had the drug then run out of the drug and try every other migraine drug and they’d half work maybe and I would just scrape thru enough time to the next sick day or vacation day (ours were earned monthly) and I’d have the massive migraine of the month where my feet wanted to go, but my head insisted I not!! I’m just curious. jackie

Michelle,

What about the Migraine abortive medications such as the triptans — Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc.?

Depakote is only one of over 100 medications that can be used for Migraine prevention, so you still have lots of options. If your doctor isn’t able to help, you may find that a true Migraine specialist is your best option. Take a look at http://migraine.com/blog/is-it-time-for-a-new-migraine-doctor/

Teri

I haven’t had a Migraine for almost 7 years, they start with a small blur.
As if when you’re reading it would be a letter disappearing, then a word and then a paragraph.
About twenty minutes after this comes the extreme pain, numbness in the hands and face.
Today I had my first and worst Migraine since 2005 and not only did all of the following occur… but i had Slurred speech, as if my mouth were asleep or my mouth wasn’t processing what my brain was commuting. I had a CT and nothing was found. Probably my worst yet.

1.) is this Aura?
2.) is it common to go up to 7 years until another attack and could this mean more to come? Sadly i thought i was cured.
3.) can slurred speech be a normal symptom. (slurred speech was what led to the E.R. visit.)

( I had just finished a hard workout when it started, and im 24 yrs old.) – case this helps…

Thanks -

Hi, Matthew,

What you’re describing with your speech is called aphasia, and it can be a Migraine aura symptom. This article on the possible phases of a Migraine attack and their potential symptoms should be helpful to you – http://migraine.com/migraine-basics/migraine-phases/

It’s not common to go so long without a Migraine, then have one, but it does happen.

It’s possible that the exertion of your workout was the trigger for the Migraine. Have you had other times after a workout when you had any symptoms or what you thought was a headache? Most people who have Migraine with aura also have Migraine without aura. It’s actually unusual to have an aura with every Migraine.

Did your doctor order the CT, or did you go to the ER? If it was through the ER, be sure to follow up with your own doctor.

Teri

Thank you Teri,

Yes, i have been out of state for school and Ive never had an attack that bad where speech was involved with the migraine, i had a friend with me who was a medic and thought i was having a stroke due to the jibberish. So we went to the ER. I have to say the doctor could have cared a little more.
Like i said previously, its been 7 years since my last episode but they have always been aura.
I know when a Migraine is coming on because my vision starts to blur
Then the Pain,
Then the numbness/tingling. and in this last one the aphasia’ or speech issues during the numbing.

thanks-

You’re welcome, Matthew. Hopefully, Migraines like this one won’t be very common for you. It was bound to have been really frightening. I’m glad someone was with you. Just thinking – is it possible that you became dehydrated during your workout? Dehydration can trigger a Migraine too, so be sure to hydrate well before working out. Remember that caffeine and alcohol can be dehydrating, so it would be best to avoid them before a workout.

Teri

I was diagnosed as having migraines with aura two years ago. My scariest episode with one occurred when I was at work. I was walking down a hallway and was having trouble seeing. I had a migraine headache with lots of nausea the entire day. I blinked my eyes, and it started getting worse. When I looked around at my coworkers, I could not see their faces. It was blurred and looked like I all of a sudden had glaucoma. The blur then started to flicker. I immediately told my supervisor, and he called the company nurse. I was very scared because I could see at all, and she told me that the best thing for me to do was to go to the ER since I hadn’t experienced it that bad before. It took about an hour for it to go away. I was relieved to find out after the tests it was only an aura. I have auras with my migraines almost always. I have one now. If anyone has any advise on what to do to make them less intense, please let me know.

PINK2627 – Are you seeing a headache specialist or currently taking any preventives?